The decision of an independent city board will determine whether Macomb will be able to follow its planned timetable for rebuilding the bridge along Wigwam Hollow Road.

The Macomb Board of Zoning Appeals voted Wednesday to table a variance request from McDonough Power Cooperative to relocate its electrical substation in the area.

The original substation is about 50 years old — older than the ordinance designating the Wigwam Hollow Road area as a residential zone. In order for a new substation to exist in the residential area, the zoning board must approve the variance.

John McMillan, attorney for McDonough Power, articulated the present dilemma.

"We can't move the old substation until we build a new substation," he said, "and the city can't do the bridge work until we move the substation."

He indicated the city's plan could be delayed by an additional year if the zoning board fails to approve the company's request.

McMillan said the company would like to build a new $1 million substation further down Wigwam Hollow Road where Western Illinois University has approved an easement to allow McDonough Power to build on the equivalent of four lots in the Woodland Lane subdivision.

"There is a tremendous safety issue here," Macomb City Attorney Kristen Petrie said of the planned relocation. "The widened road would be closer to the substation if it isn't moved and this would cause a precarious traffic situation."

As power cooperative chief executive Mike Smith phrased it, "The elevated bridge would be a potential launching pad into the substation."

Opposition?

But the three property owners now living on Woodland Lane told the zoning board that they don't want the new power substation built next door to them.

"We are worried about the electromagnetic fields and the health implications," said Rolf Hackmann.

Smith said electromagnetic fields are everywhere and dissipate to a level of zero after the first 150 feet.

"Your computer screen emits more of an electromagnetic field," he said, “and there's an even more powerful current if you use a hair dryer."

Hackman said his research indicates a possible 15 percent drop in property values for homes located next door to electrical substations.

Another neighborhood resident, Gordon Rands, said the proposed new substation would have double the imprint of the present substation.

"Couldn't it be moved further away?" Rands asked. "WIU isn't doing anything with its old Lamoine Village property."

Smith said that, because of existing power and transmission lines, it would be best to move the substation as close to its current site as possible.

"We're wanting to move it no further than we have to move it to get it out of the flood plain," he said.

Page 2 of 2 - The chief executive said it would add considerable time to the relocation if the power company had to wait for WIU to raze the former apartment complex.

"Besides, it's not close enough to the roadway," Smith said. "We want our substations to be seen by the public because it adds a level of protection."

"A good upgrade to that substation wouldn't bother anything," board member LeRoy Brown said to the Woodland Lane residents. "And you knew the substation was there before you moved into those houses."

But Brown was outvoted three to one by other members, who tabled further discussion until Aug. 13.

A fifth board member, Tom Blackford, abstained because he is a WIU employee and the university is a party to the petition because it has approved a site easement.